A diary of the projects, hurdles, rewards and family life at we recorded at Wise Acres, our former homestead in Horsefly, BC. (Careers and teenagers have forced us back into the city, at least for a little while.)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

"Sympathy" Cooking



Recently, one of our good friends had some medical issues and they happened to be in the middle of calving season. This left his wife and his Dad with the task of staying on top of calving out a couple of hundred cows and eighty heifers (first time calvers), not to mention caring for the rest of the ranch and three children under the age of five! Yikes!

My friend and I decided we really wanted to help and she came up with the idea of preparing some meals, so at least our friend wouldn't have to deal with meal prep. on top of everything else. It was easy for the two of us to come up with a couple of lunches and dinners and I think it meant a lot to our friend, because she burst into tears when we told her we were bringing them over.

I think this is common in small communities where you really have to depend on each other. Last summer another neighbour fell off his hayshed in the middle of haying season and all the neighbours stepped up and brought in his hay for him. It always floors me, how people don't even hesitate in these situations. It's one of the reasons I love living in Horsefly.

Today I came across this post  which provides a guide to giving sympathy meals on Simple Bites, a really great cooking site for families.  I was a little intimidated at the idea of making a meal for someone else and this gives some very practical advice.